Gicheru Leads as 32 Juniors Advance to NCBA Kenya Junior Matchplay Championship
Mwathi Gicheru set the pace on the opening day of the 2026 NCBA Kenya Junior Matchplay Championship, carding an impressive one-under-par 71 at Sigona Golf Club as the Strokeplay qualifying round concluded with 32 players advancing to the matchplay stage.
Gicheru, representing Royal Nairobi Golf Club, posted the lowest score of the day to top the qualifier, finishing one stroke ahead of Jelani Kihanya of Limuru Country Club, who returned a two-over-par 74.
Kevin Anyien, also of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, finished third on 75, three over par, while Sean Widor of San Roque Golf Club and Sigona Golf Club’s Maahir Patel shared fourth place on 76.
A closely packed group followed, with Jemile Gacheru, Yuvraj Rajput, Andrew Gathere, Ewan Widor and Justin Ngeera all carding 77 to finish five over par.
The Strokeplay qualifier provided a stern test for the juniors, who needed to finish among the top 32 to secure a place in the matchplay phase. The championship has brought together some of Kenya’s leading junior golfers as well as international competitors.
Among those progressing to the knockout stage are Aarush Vara, Kayden Wissanji, Savir Shah, Yuvraj Rajput, Justin Ngeera, Ewan Widor, Sean Widor and Kevin Anyien.
The 32 qualifiers have now been placed into their respective matchplay pairings, with head-to-head competition beginning on Tuesday, August 11.
The transition from Strokeplay to matchplay introduces a different dimension to the championship. Players must now manage their games against individual opponents, with tactical decisions on every hole potentially determining the outcome.
Unlike Strokeplay, where the overall score across the round determines a player’s position, matchplay rewards players for winning individual holes. A single mistake or a moment of brilliance could therefore prove decisive.
With only a handful of strokes separating many of the qualifiers, Sigona is set for a series of closely fought encounters as the juniors battle for progression towards the championship final.
Matchplay action gets underway today on Tuesday, August 11, with the championship scheduled to continue through Thursday, August 13, 2026.
